The cargo ship that ran aground stopped to depart until the damage assessment was completed. 

Transport Ministry with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said that the Panama-flagged cargo ship, Navios Amaryllis, which ran aground on the reef west of K Rasfari early Thursday morning, will only be allowed to leave the Maldives after an agreement is reached on the payment of damages and after a damage assessment of the reef has been completed. 

Hamad Abdul Ghanee, the deputy minister of transportation, told a press conference that the ship had grounded on a rock near Rasfari after one of its engines had been cut off. As a result of this, he claimed, the ship's captain was negligent. 

The yacht will be allowed to depart the Maldives following a comprehensive damage assessment, according to Hamad. 

To that end, (EPA) also stated that the overall amount of damages that would need to be paid cannot be determined until after they have completed their inspection of the reef - which is now underway. And if the boat chooses to leave before that the boat has to pay a fine sum – a deposit of MVR 100 million as well as an undertaking as to damages. 

EPA said that the decision not to allow the boat to leave without a deposit was made after consultations with the entire investigative group. 

Under the statute, a punishment of up to MVR 100 million can be imposed for environmental harm.